Standing in the desert in the scorching sun, Jakub Mensik handles a basketball for a photo shoot that I’m observing—not the sport he usually excels at but, as with most things, he’s game. The photographer enthusiastically tries to give him some mocked-up scenario: Tie game. Seconds left on the clock.
Mensik shows off some handles, then shoots and misses. “I lose,” he deadpans.
But he persists, then decides to go for a dunk. Standing among the crew and other media flack, I can’t be the only one thinking, please, don’t injure yourself as he stretches, all 6’5” of him, toward the rim and comes up slightly short. He shakes his head. “I need one more centimeter.”